Kids Wall Art
Large wall posters for kids. Your kids will love these cool posters by artist Carla Daly. Your kids will enjoy decorating their bedroom walls with these posters and their friends will think they are the coolest!
| Name: ABC Wall Art Size: 44×72cm (17.5″×28″) Time: 9:00 am every day Prices: $ 6.8/piece Colorful ABC art for your kids’ bedroom and playroom. A fun, educational art piece that all kids will enjoy. Kids and babies will love learning their animals and the ABC at the same time! |
| Name: Kids World Map Size: 45×75cm (17.5″×29.5″) Time: 2:00 pm on Wednesday Prices: $ 7.2/piece A colorful, large print by artist Carla Daly. Your kids will love this world map showing the lands, oceans and the fun animals that live in them. An educational map that will keep your kids happy for hours! |
| Name: Skateboard Park Size: 44×60cm (17.5″×23.5″) Time: 9:00 am on weekends Prices: $ 8.8/piece Fun zebra children’s wall art! Children and kids will love these fun animals enjoying this popular kids’ sport. Boys and girls will enjoy decorating their bedroom walls with this colorful bedroom wall art. |
| Name: City Slickers(城市佬) Size: 44×55cm(17.5″×23.5″) Time: 2:00 pm every day except Friday Prices: $ 6.5/piece Cute kids wall art of two cool giraffes taking a drive through the city, unusual, fun style for kids’ walls! Your kids will love this fun giraffe wall art. Boys and girls will have fun decorating their bedroom walls with this colorful bedroom wall art. |
Jane, who would like to buy a poster with the size of 45×75cm, will probably buy ________.
| A．ABC Wall Art | B．Kids World Map |
| C．Skateboard Park | D．City Slickers |
David plans to buy two posters. He should at least take ________ with him.
| A．$ 15.3. | B．$ 14. | C．$ 12. | D．$ 13.3. |
Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
| A．Kids can find two cool giraffes on Skateboard Park. |
| B．Kids can just learn some English letters on ABC Wall Art. |
| C．Kids can enjoy fun zebra children’s wall art on City Slickers. |
| D．Kids can get some geography knowledge on Kids World Map. |
Last year I ruined my summer vacation by bringing along a modern convenience that was too convenient for my own good: the iPad. Instead of looking at nature, I checked my e-mail. Instead of paddling a small boat, I followed my Twitter feed（推特简讯）. Instead of reading great novels, I stuck to reading four newspapers each morning. I was behaving as if I were still in the office. My body was on vacation, but my head wasn’t.
So this year I made up my mind to try something different: withdrawal（退出）from the Internet. I knew it wouldn’t be easy, since I’m bad at self-control. But I was determined. I started by giving the iPad to my wife.
The cellphone signal at our house was worse than in the past, making my attempts at cheating an experience in frustration （沮丧）. I was trapped, forced to go through with my plan. Largely cut off from e-mail, Twitter and my favorite newspaper websites, I had few ways to connect to the world except for the radio—and how much radio can one listen to, really? I had to do what I had planned to do all along: read books.
This experience has had a happy ending. With determination and the strong support of my wife, I won in my vacation straggle against the Internet, realizing finally that it was I, not the iPad, that was the problem. I knew I had won when we passed a Starbucks and my wife asked if I wanted to stop to use the Wi-Fi. “I don’t need it,” I said.
However, as we return to post-vacation life, a harder test begins: Can I continue when I’m back at work?
There are times when the need to know what’s being said right now is great. I have no intention of giving up my convenience completely. But I hope to resist the temptation （诱惑）to check my e-mail every five minutes, which leads to checking my Twitter feed and a website ortwo.
I think a vacation is supposed to help you reset your brain to become more productive. Here I hope this one worked.
What do we know about the author’s last summer vacation?
| A．He was determined to enjoy the beautiful view. |
| B．His iPad ruined his plan of finishing a great novel. |
| C．He felt satisfied that he had stuck to his usual timetable. |
| D．He hated himself for acting as if he were working on vacation. |
What did the author do to keep away from the Internet this year?
| A．He handed his iPad to his wife. |
| B．He cut off his cellphone signal. |
| C．He refused to cheat in his house. |
| D．He listened to the radio most of the time. |
When back at work, the author will probably choose to ________.
| A．stay away from the Internet for ever |
| B．continue to road more and more books |
| C．keep control of when and how to use the Internet |
| D．stop checking what is being said right now completely |
What is the author’s opinion of a great vacation in the passage?
| A．A vacation is having nothing to do but read all day. |
| B．A vacation proves that a life of pleasure is overvalued. |
| C．A vacation is a period of time to do whatever one wishes to. |
| D．A vacation means a change of pace to make one more creative. |
Victoria Avenue School supports the Walking School Bus initiative（倡议） a safe, healthy and fun way for children to walk to and from school, guided by a registered group of parents. If you and your child would be interested in joining one of our buses we would love to hear from you.
Bell Road route
This is a morning bus with over 30 walkers! The route is as follows: Starts at 14 Bell Road, down Scherf Road, crosses Portland Road into Ingram Street, left into Spencer Street then to school. Please call Vanessa McNaught at 5234529.
Lingarth / Mahoe route
This bus runs morning and afternoon. It departs from the corner of Combes Road and Lingarth Street at 8:10 am. There are two routes-one goes along Lingarth Street and the other along Mahoe Avenue and Manawa Road at 8:25 am. The bus continues up Manawa Road, turns right into Victoria Avenue, and goes down Dragon Drive. At the end of the school day all walkers meet at the bottom of Dragon Drive, leaving school at approximately 3:10 pm. Please contact Toko Kofoed tokofoed@gmail. com.
Shore Road route
We gather together at Hapua Reserve at 8:15 am and depart at 8:20 am. We walk along Shore Road to Stirling Street and then up Stirling Street to school. Please contact Nicky Hall nicky. hall@simpsongrierson. com.
Spencer Street starwalkers
The route begins at the crossing of Aldred Road and Spencer Street leaving at 8:20 am.The bus then crosses Glenbrook Street and continues along Spencer Street reaching the school. Please contact Victoria Nicholls victorian@ pascoes. co. nz.
Shera Road route
Currently this bus is not running. Those living in Shera Road, Leys Crescent and Portland Road are welcome to register your interest in taking this bus. We hope to have the bus running in the autumn, when it will travel along Portland Road, up Ingram Street and left into Spencer Street. Pease call Vanessa McNaught at 5234529.
Part of Bell Road route is similar to .
| A．Lingarth/Mahoe route |
| B．Shera Road route |
| C．Shore Road route |
| D．Spencer Street starwalkers |
In the afternoon, a student taking the bus of Lingarth/Mahoe route may go along .
| A．Combes Road Lingarth Street Mahoe Avenue Manawa Road |
| B．Combes Road- Mahoe Avenue Manawa Road Dragon Drive |
| C．Dragon Drive Victoria Avenue Manawa Road Mahoe Avenue |
| D．Dragon Drive Manawa Road Victoria Avenue Lingarth Street |
Who might be most interested in the text?
| A．Bus drivers. | B．Local walkers. |
| C．Tourists. | D．Parents. |
Winter Travel Adventures
“Let it snow, let it snow!” You have found your home for all adventures, icy, snowy and white! Discover breathtaking sights while cross-country skiing and snow mobiling, or uncover new lands for skiing, and find the hottest spots to snowboard. Informative links below will get you on your way to a winter wonderland journey.
Seniors Head South for Winter
A feature article on the annual（一年一次的）migration of Winter Texans and Snow Birds heading to warmer places for the winter. Resources for Texas, Florida, Southern U.S and international destinations are included.
Skiing and Snowboarding adventures
You either love it or hate it, strapping（用带子系）a pair of boards to your feet and thrusting yourself down a snow-covered mountain at a speed of 60 miles per hour. If downhill running is your adventure game, connect with the best resources for adventures, vacations, ski trips and destinations.
Cross-country Skiing Adventures
All ages can find pleasure and exercise on a good pair of cross-country skis. Discover the winter back-country on your next adventure. Connect with adventure opportunities, outfitters, equipment sources, destinations and more.
Snowmobile Adventures
Take to the snow-covered backcountry and discover white adventures where only snowmobiles can take you. You can find information from a resource center about adventure tours, group tours, clubs, equipment, destinations, best trails and more.
Snowshoe Adventures
Foot power proves to be the ultimate （首要）dependable transportation, and that applies to winter trekking (艰苦跋涉)through the backcountry. A good pair of snowshoes can get you to places when nothing else can.The purpose of this text is to _______.
| A．introduce some of the famous scenic spots |
| B．introduce the hottest spots to snowboard |
| C．provide readers with several choices of traveling. |
| D．provide information of different travel agencies |
The underlined words “hottest spots” (in paragraph 1) mean _______.
| A．places with the highest temperature |
| B．the most popular places for travelers. |
| C．places with hot springs |
| D．the most popular winter games |
If you wish to spend your winter abroad, which group would you join?
| A．Seniors Head South For Winter |
| B．Snowmobile Adventures |
| C．Skiing and Snowboarding Adventures |
| D．Cross-Country Skiing Adventures |
UFO stands for "unidentified flying object". Many people reported having seen UFOs in the sky. A lot of countries tried to research them and in 1952 they got the name of UFO.
There were several reports published in the 19th century which were related to UFOs. Denison Daily News in its report of 25th January, 1878 wrote that a farmer, Martin, saw a flying object in the sky and it was just like a plate. This was the first time that the word plate had been related to the UFOs.
The first reports on UFOs came during World War II. In 1947 pilot Kenneth Arnold said while he was flying near the Mount Rainer he saw a very bright object in the sky. He said that it was like a plate too. The information given by Kenneth got lots of attention from the media and people.
Several research organizations gave their reports on the UFOs. They showed direct or indirect physical evidence of the UFOs, and sometimes UFOs’ appearance was found on the radar (雷达) screen. Many people tried to take video tapes or photos of the UFOs as testimony. Most UFOs are in saucer shape while many UFOs are like a cigarette or a half ball.
Many films and TV shows are made about UFOs. There are two famous movies which are created on the theme of UFOs and aliens, War of the World and Star Wars. UFOs have created a new field in science which is known as Ufology (飞碟学).Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
| A．The UFOs Martin and Kenneth Arnold saw were in different shapes. |
| B．People named the flying object UFO in the 19th century. |
| C．Martin was the first person that described the flying object as a plate. |
| D．Kenneth Arnold was given little attention for his discovering UFO. |
What does the underlined word " testimony " in the fourth paragraph mean?
| A．Evidence. | B．Research. | C．Mystery. | D．Appearance. |
From the passage, we can infer ______.
| A．the danger of UFOs attracted the media’s attention |
| B．most UFOs’ shapes are changeable |
| C．Ufology was developed a hundred years ago |
| D．the radar helps people get UFO evidence |
The next paragraph following the passage might talk about ________.
| A．famous movies on the UFOs |
| B．different UFOs’shapes |
| C．the effect of UFOs on humans |
| D．the new science —Ufology |
阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项(A、B、C和D)中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
Welcome to our school. You can do a lot of things here. Come and join us.
| Timetable |
|
| Sunday 8:30---11:30 Personal Inventions You can see many inventions by the students; you may also bring your own inventions. |
Monday 19:00---21:00 Space and Man Dr. Thomas West If you want to know more about the universe. |
| Wednesday 19:30---21:00 Modern Medicine Mrs. Lucy Green Would you like to know medical science? |
Friday 18:30---21:00 Computer Science Mr. Harry Morison from Harvard University Learn to use Windows XP. |
You may have a chance to introduce your inventions on _________.
| A．Monday | B．Sunday |
| C．Friday | D．Wednesday |
The person who teaches Computer Science is from___________.
| A．Australia | B．Canada |
| C．America | D．New Zealand |
You may learn something about a disease called TB from __________.
| A．Mr. Morison | B．Dr. West |
| C．Mr. Thomas | D．Mrs. Green |
If you want to learn something about satellites, you can go to the class from______.
| A．19:00 to 21:00 on Monday |
| B．8:30 to 11:30 on Sunday |
| C．18:30 to 21:00 on Friday |
| D．19:30 to 21:00 on Wednesday |
A Guide to the University
Food
The TWU Cafeteria is open 7am to 8pm. It serves snacks(小吃), drinks, ice cream bars and meals. You can pay with cash or your ID cards. You can add meal money to your ID cards at the Front Desk. Even if you do not buy your food in the cafeteria, you can use the tables to eat your lunch, to have meetings and to study.
If you are on campus in the evening or late at night, you can buy snacks, fast food, and drinks in the Lower Café located in the bottom level of the Gouglas Centre. This area is often used for entertainment such as concerts, games or TV watching.
Relaxation
The Globe, located in the bottom level of McMillan Hall, is available for relaxing, studying, cooking, and eating. Monthly activities are held here for all international students. Hours are 10 am to 10 pm, closed on Sundays.
Health
Located on the top floor of Douglas Hall, the Wellness Centre is committed to physical, emotional and social health. A doctor and nurse is available if you have health questions or need immediate medical help or personal advice. The cost of this is included in your medical insurance. Hours are Monday to Friday, 9am to noon and 1;00 to 4;30pm.
Academic Support
All students have access to the Writing Centre on the upper floor of Douglas Hall. Here, qualified volunteers will work with you on written work, grammar, vocabulary, and other academic skills. You can sign up for an appointment on the sign-up sheet outside the door two 30 –minute appointments per week maximum. This service is free.
Transportation
The TWU Express is a shuttle(班车) service. The shuttle transports students between campus and the shopping center, leaving from the Mattson Centre. Operation hours are between 8am and 3pm. Saturdays only. Round trip fare is $1.
What can you do in the TWU Cafeteria?
| A．Do homework and watch TV |
| B．Buy drinks and enjoy concerts |
| C．have meals and meet with friends |
| D．Add money to your ID and play chess |
Where and when can you cook your own food?
| A．The McMillan Hall , Sunday. | B．The Lower Café, Sunday |
| C．The TWU Cafeteria, Friday | D．The Globe, Friday |
The Guide tells us that the Wellness Centre _________.
| A．is open six days a week |
| B．gives advice on mental health |
| C．trains students in medical care |
| D．offers services free of charge |
How can you seek help from the Writing Center?
| A．By filling in a sign-up form |
| B．By applying online |
| C．By calling the center |
| D．By going to the center directly |
We need a logo that will be the perfect symbol of our new Wheelsville Skate Park. We would like those of you who are counting the days until the opening of the park to design a proper logo.
LOGO REQUIREMENTS
▪Designs must be original and easy to recognize.
▪They should include no more than two colors in addition to black and white.
▪Artwork should be reproducible at different sizes from business cards to posters.
▪The words “ Wheelsville Skate Park” must appear in the logo.
SUBMISSION (提交) DETAILS
▪Competitors are required to be 18 years old or younger.
▪There is no limit to the number of submissions.
▪The name and address of the designer must appear on the back of the logo design.
▪Competitors need to include a one-page written explanation describing the key features of the design.
▪All submissions sent to Wheelsville Skate Park will not be returned.
▪All works must be sent to skateman4x@comlink.com no later than May 15.
▪Files (文件) should be .jpg, .gif, .png, .pict, or Photoshop files.
▪The winning design will be posted on our website at www.wheelsville.skatepark.com on May 20, one week before the opening celebration.
PRIZES
▪First Prize: Digital camera, one-year pass to Wheelsville Skate Park, and two T-shirts with the prize-winning logo.
▪Second Prize: Six-month pass to Wheelsville Skate Park and a T-shirt with the prize-winning logo.
▪Honorable Mention: One free ticket to Wheelsville Skate Park and a T-shirt with the prize-winning logo to two competitors from grades 6–8, and two from grades 9–12.
JUDGES
▪Among the judges are a professional designer, two technology teachers, four local skaters, and three members of Wheelsville Skate Park Board of Directors.
▪The judges’ decisions are final. In Paragraph 1, the underlined part “ counting the days” suggests a feeling of ________.
| A．nervousness | B．amusement |
| C．excitement | D．uncertainty |
Why does the following logo design show a misunderstanding of the rules?
| A．It does not use the full park name. |
| B．It is not as big as it is expected. |
| C．It does not use three colors. |
| D．It just shows a skateboard. |
As the top winner of the activity, you may ________.
| A．win a camera and a free ticket to the park |
| B．get a T-shirt with your own photo on it |
| C．visit the park free of charge for one year |
| D．receive a half-a-year pass to the park |
The text is probably a(n) ________.
| A．news report | B．advertisement |
| C．lesson plan | D．travel guide |
Today is Sarah’s birthday. She is seventy-five. We asked a few old friends to dinner.
Like most elderly people, I suppose, we spent most of the evening talking about old times. Thirty years ago, the village used to be a quiet place. Now it has changed. Every Sunday hundreds of cars pass through the village at what I think a dangerous speed. They make the village almost as noisy as the streets of a large town. As a boy I enjoyed riding on the backs of the farm horses. Things are different now. Today there are very few horses working on the farms. The farm workers today drive tractors, not horses. A man is not of much use on a farm unless he knows all about machines. Now almost every house in the village has a TV set. Is it a good thing for children to spend the evening sitting in front of a TV set? When I was young I did not waste my time indoors. I would spend the long summer evenings outdoors. I would play with my friends, go fishing or walk by the river. When my grandchildren asked me the reason why I haven’t bought a TV set, I tell them there are many books I still want to read. I can’t find time for both reading and watching TV.The old like to talk about _______.
| A．themselves | B．others | C．the past | D．nothing |
When I was a boy, I _______ riding on farm horses.
| A．used to see people |
| B．disliked |
| C．was fond of |
| D．saw some elderly people |
Which is NOT right according to the passage?
| A．In the past the village was a quiet place. |
| B．It is a good time for children to watch TV all evening. |
| C．On Sundays many cars pass through the village at a dangerous speed. |
| D．When I was young I didn’t waste my time indoors. |
I would rather _______ than _______.
| A．watch TV; do some reading |
| B．play with friends; go fishing |
| C．do some reading; watch TV |
| D．go fishing; play with friends |
Windows8, apart from Windows95, is the biggest surprise and the only version of Microsoft’s operating system that has been changed from the core（核心）when compared to its former one.
However, a recent study has shown that under 20% of business owners would be willing to upgrade to the new version of Windows. The reason for this remains to be discussed and debated, and we will try to throw light on this research by providing you with some of the most common advantages and disadvantages of Windows8.
Generally speaking, there are a great number of plus sides related to upgrading from Windows7 to Windows8.
Speed—This is the biggest advantage to mention. Boot time has been reported to be up to nine times shorter than that with Windows7.
New passwords—Instead of typing your passwords, Windows8 will let you use gestures on your favorite photos to enter your password. This is not only practical but also extremely cool!
Windows8 experience—Apart from computers, Windows8 will be used on all devices, including smart phones, tablet PCs and so on. Also, owing to the fact that it has been specifically designed with touch screen users in mind, Windows8, besides using keyboard and mouse, will offer a whole new user experience.
However, there are still some disadvantages.
The first one that has to be mentioned is that there is no Start Menu from Windows. Yes, there is no Start button in the lower left corner, and this might be a real puzzle of many Windows users. Also, many users have had a problem to get used to the new interface introduced by Windows8. The biggest problem that is worth noticing is that Windows8 was originally designed for touch screen users, and this may have a bad effect on desktop users who have gotten used to doing everything with the help of their keyboard and mouse.What does “plus sides” in Paragraph 3 probably refer to?
| A．Math symbols. | B．Strengths. |
| C．New rules. | D．Messages. |
According to the text the greatest advantage of Windows8 is its ______.
| A．complex passwords | B．high speed |
| C．unique experience | D．new interface |
From the text we can learn that Windows8 ______.
| A．no longer requires a password |
| B．was upgraded from windows95 |
| C．will be popular with desktop users |
| D．can be used on more than computers |
Many Windows8 users face the problem that ______.
| A．Start Menu is hidden in the lower left corner |
| B．they have to use fingerprints instead of button |
| C．keyboard and mouse can’t be used any longer |
| D．they don’t get accustomed to the new interface |
Do the exercise15 through 25. Give the different forms of the verbs on page50 of your French workbook. Read page12 through 20 of the Shakespeare play, and when you have finished that, don’t forget to fill the missing chemical symbols on the Periodic Table of Elements worksheet.
Homework is a major part of going to class, and it helps students grasp important concepts. Luckily, you can do a few things to make homework less painful.
First, be sure you understand the assignment. Write it down in your notebook or day planner if you need to, and don’t be afraid to ask questions about what is expected. It is much easier to take a minute to ask the teacher during or after class than to struggle to remember later at night!
Second, use any extra time you have in school to work on your homework. Many schools have study halls that are specifically designed to allow students to study or get homework done. It is attractive to hang out with friends during study periods or unscheduled time, but the more work you can get done in school, the less you will have to do at night.
Third, pace yourself. If you don’t finish your homework during school, think about how much you have left and what else is going on that day, and then budget your time. Most high school students have between 1 and 3 hours of homework a night. If it is a heavy-homework day and it seems like you have got an assignment on every subject but gym and lunch, you will need to devote more time to homework schedule, especially if you are involved in sports or activities or have an after-school job.The first paragraph is probably ______.
| A．examination items |
| B．a list of homework |
| C．some teacher training tasks |
| D．some learning methods |
What is the author’s attitude towards homework’s effect on students?
| A．Opposing. | B．Impatient. |
| C．Approving. | D．Concerned. |
One way to reduce your burden of homework at night is to ______.
| A．take part in studying teams |
| B．appeal for teachers’ aid at any time |
| C．focus full attention on teachers’ lecture |
| D．make full use of the time at school |
Which of the following would be the best title of the passage?
| A．Why Students Should Do Homework |
| B．How to Make Homework Less Work |
| C．It is High Time Teachers Gave Less Homework |
| D．Who is to Blame for Children’ s Poor Eyesight |
Dear God,
This is Charles. I’m twelve. I’m typing this letter. Sometimes it’s hard for me to write. It’s a disease called dysgraphia. I also have learning disabilities, but my IQ was tested at 140.
I could never hold a pencil in the right way. My brain doesn’t sense what my hand is doing. I can feel the pencil, but the message doesn’t get through right. I have to hold the pencil tighter so that my brain knows I have it in my hand.
It’s much easier for me to explain things by talking than writing. There are so many things I can picture in my mind, but my hands just can’t draw it the way I see it.
It’s OK. I’m not complaining. I’m really doing fine. You see, you gave me a wonderful mind and a great sense of humor. I’m great at figuring things out, and I love to debate. We have some great discussions in class, and that’s where I really shine.
I want to be a lawyer when I grow up. I know I’d be good at it. You have told me that you made me special. You make me believe that you will see me through, and that you have plans for me to give me a future and hope. My parents want to help me, so they buy me a laptop. My teacher is the best this year! I am allowed to do a lot of my work on the computer.
Life’s hard sometimes, but I accept the challenge. Thanks for loving me. Thanks for everything.
CharlesThe second paragraph mainly tells us ______.
| A．the details of his disease |
| B．his feelings about the disease |
| C．how to prevent the disease |
| D．how he holds a pencil in the right way |
The boy wanted to be a lawyer because of the following EXCEPT ______.
| A．he loved to debate |
| B．he was good at explaining things |
| C．he had a great sense of humor |
| D．lawyers don’t have to depend on writing |
The boy wrote the letter in order to ______.
| A．complain about his disease |
| B．show his gratefulness |
| C．show others that he was clever |
| D．talk about his life |
A group of people decided to climb a mountain together. They thought it was going to be an easy climb, so they laughed and talked among themselves and didn’t notice the sky growing darker. They soon got lost for they couldn’t see very far in front of them. They huddled together that night over a fire.
No one walked too far away from the group by themselves because it would surely lead to death. They sat close to each other throughout the dark hours not just for warmth, but for the fact that staying with the group was their only hope for survival. After what felt like a century, the sun started its slow climb up the sky. They were now able to see as far ahead of them as they liked, so they began to go down the mountain.
They still remained as a group at this time even though there was no real need. A bond (凝聚力) had formed throughout the group that could not be broken or ignored. They knew each other just as well as they knew themselves. As they reached the place where they had started their journey, they knew it was time to say goodbye. Feeling at peace, they bowed (鞠躬) deeply to each other. All of them kept the love they created as a group close to their hearts as they made their way out into the world alone.What was the difficulty the group of people met in the mountain?
| A．Damaged roads. | B．Animals’ attack. |
| C．Losing their way. | D．Running out of food. |
What does the underlined word “huddled” in the first paragraph probably mean?
| A．Talked a lot. | B．Sat close to each other. |
| C．Played happily. | D．Explored the mountain. |
What was the most important thing they did in order to survive?
| A．They kept close to each other. |
| B．They told stories to encourage others. |
| C．They made a fire to keep warm. |
| D．They sent some people to find the way. |
They remained as a group when going down the mountain because ______.
| A．the way was still not clear |
| B．they enjoyed being in a group |
| C．they needed others to pull them |
| D．the way became difficult to walk on |
Soup on my nose, a nearly spilled glass of wine and chocolate down my white blouse, as blind dates suggest, this was a really messy one. I have never made so much noise with plates and glasses, nor had I dined with a never-before-met companion. This blind date was quite different: we could see nothing. "Put your left hand on my shoulder, and then we'll take small steps forward," said Michael, the visually impaired(视力障碍的) server, in an East London accent. We three felt our way carefully bumping past heavy curtains before being arranged at the dining table, where we would eat and drink three completely secret and unseen courses.
Welcome to Alchemy in the Dark, Hong Kong's first full-time restaurant in total darkness. Upon arrival, diners briefly tell the chef on their allergies(过敏性反应), lock away their mobile phones and enter the windowless restaurant, which can seat 25. When the meal is over, the contents of the delicious menu are shown --- often to the diners' surprise. "This is definitely duck," my friend said, while eating chicken. "This soup," I declared, "is carrot and coriander." Even the too-close smell did not reveal the real tomato and cumin flavors. Dining in the dark changes everything: the sense of smell is heightened, manners go out of the window ----using your hands to feel around the plate becomes normal--- and there is a strange thrill in being able to ignore your facial expressions. Best of all? You don't have to spend hours beforehand(事先) wondering what to wear.
Alchemy in the Dark is at 16 Arbuthnot Road, Central, (tel: 6821 2801) and is open Monday to Saturday, from 7pm to 11pm. Reservations are required. A three-course meal with wine pairing costs HK$700 per person. Five per cent of all profits go to the Hong Kong Society for the Blind.
How did the author and her companion arrive at their dining table?
| A．By using a map |
| B．By being led |
| C．By feeling their way. |
| D．By finding it by themselves |
According to passage, which of the following is true?
| A．The diners might eat what they are allergic to. |
| B．The author enjoyed a special lunch at Alchemy in the Dark. |
| C．The restaurant donated some money to the H. K Society for the Blind. |
| D．The diners aren’t allowed to take phones to the restaurant at any time. |
From the passage we can learn that the author ___________.
| A．had the table booked |
| B．shared the meal with a friend. |
| C．practiced how to eat in total darkness. |
| D．chose her clothes in advance for the meal. |
The last paragraph is intended to ____________.
| A．present some facts about eating in the dark. |
| B．inform what to do at Alchemy in the Dark |
| C．conclude the experience of eating at Alchemy in the Dark. |
| D．provide some information about Alchemy in the Dark. |
I have happy memories of trips to Europe, but my trip to Romania (罗马尼亚) was unique. When I was there as recalled, it was like being in a “James Bond” movie. My husband was born there, but his family sent him to study in Italy. Before he left, his mother told him, “As long as I write in pencil, don’t come back. When I write to you in pen, it’s safe to return.” But she never wrote in pen.
My husband lived a poor life in Italy. He applied to go to America, but there was a limit in number and he was rejected. He was accepted by Canada, though, and from Calgary he jumped onto a train to San Francisco. There he stayed —illegally. He became a US citizen when we got married. By then he was a charming European with a Romanian accent and the manners of a prince.
With seven years’ experience in America, a US passport, and two children later, he felt it was safe to visit Romania. He hadn’t seen his mother, two sisters, and two brothers since he was sixteen. We flew to Munich, Germany; picked up the German-made car we had purchased in the States; and drove to Romania via Austria and Hungary. When we reached Bucharest, the capital city of Romania, his family was waiting outside his sister’s house to greet us. After a long time of hugging, kissing, and crying, his family also hugged me, the American wife with two young children. They had great interest in me. Few Americans visited Romania at that time, and most Romanians had little chance to travel. I had brought an English-Romanian dictionary with me and managed to communicate, using only nouns, with no verbs. My Romanian improved, and the family’s stock of English words increased, but mostly I spoke in broken, New York-accented Romanian. The sisters loved their gifts of skirts and purses, the brothers loved the radios, and the children loved the candy. We made side trips to the Black Sea and enjoyed sightseeing in beautiful mountains. Dining at outdoor cafes to the music of violins was fantastic with fancy flavor, but nothing was as special as family dinners.
Romania didn’t have many dry cleaners. Most homes had old-fashioned washing machines but no dryers, and it was a hot summer. My husband’s relatives didn’t want to risk dirtying their clothes. Their solution was as simple as it was shocking: the women only wore their bras(胸罩) and slips (衬裙) at dinner table. The men were eating without shirts. They all had jobs, so time was precious. Having dinner without proper clothes was a small inconvenience compared with the effort of washing clothes —at least in my husband’s home, perhaps all across Romania. I, of course, having just met them, ate fully clothed. I washed my clothes by hand and hung them outdoors to dry.
On the last night of our three-week stay, we had a large family dinner. I was tired of washing my clothes. So I pulled my dress over my head and placed it on the chair behind me. All men and women applauded for my action. Even with my poor Romanian, I understood that they were saying, “She’s part of our family now.”
My children were 4 and 5 at the time, but they still have memories of that trip. They know how to say, “Good morning.” and “There are apricots (杏子) on the tree.” I can still say, “Do you speak Romanian?” and “I swim in the Black Sea.” But most of all, I remember sitting at a long dining-room table in my bra, enjoying meatballs with fresh garlic (大蒜).From Para.1, we learn that ________.
| A．a trip to Europe would be dangerous |
| B．the mother didn’t want to see her son |
| C．Romania might be unsafe at that time |
| D．the mother didn’t like to write in pen |
The writer’s husband became an American citizen through ________.
| A．experiences | B．application |
| C．illegal stay | D．marriage |
What made the writer feel special about the family dinner in Romania?
| A．The way people dressed . |
| B．The way people spoke. |
| C．The fantastic violin music. |
| D．The fancy food flavor. |
The writer was completely accepted by her husband’s family when ________.
| A．she offered gifts to the whole family |
| B．she spoke her husband’s language |
| C．she washed all the clothes by hand |
| D．she had dinner in bra like other ladies |
The writer shared her story to say ________.
| A．“East or west, home is the best” |
| B．“When in Rome do as the Romans do” |
| C．“Marry a dog and follow the dog forever” |
| D．“The course of true love never runs smooth” |
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